I am seriously developing a love/hate relationship with Ted Leo/Pharmacists. On the one hand, they are capable of staggering work such as breakthrough album The Tyranny of Distance and their last one, Shake the Sheets, showcasing retardedly advanced senses of melody… yet on the other, the band seem to put out disappointments in between every great record. The Tyranny of Distance was followed-up by Hearts of Oak, and now Shake the Sheets is being followed-up by Living With the Living. Not that Living With the Living or Hearts of Oak are bad albums, but they are certainly letdowns after the standards set by their predecessors.

For one thing, Leo has decided to trade in Shake the Sheets’ beefy production for a sonic palette not unlike The Tyranny of Distance’s weakest tracks (I’m guessing the return of Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty as producer had something to do with it). The drums sound especially muffled and stifled, with the snare not unlike a piece of rotten meat hitting the floor. As for the songs themselves, it’s business as usual as Leo and company spit out tune after tune of -– what else? – Weller and Kinks tributes, yet you can't help but feel "been there done that" toward ‘em. The Clash mingle with falsetto on “Who Do You Love?” and even reggae shows up for a visit on “The Unwanted Things,” but you don’t really care cuz the actual songs just aren’t that great. I suppose the back-to-basics approach of Living With the Living is a statement in and of itself: to strip away gleam and find beauty in the rough. Okay, I would’ve taken the rough production values if the songs were any good… but they’re just not that spectacular. Passable, yes, but definitely no “Me and Mia.”

Only time will tell if Living With the Living’s follow-up will offer redemption. Until then, get Shake the Sheets instead.
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Tim Den

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 Past Constructive Criticism

Tim posted the following Constructive Criticism: Tazzy, I wanted to like the album: I really did. Like I said, I enjoy their every other record... just not this one. Melissa, unless a musician changes his/her career and somehow achieves notoriety and acclaim in another field – say, biology – he/she's every new move will always be compared to his/her past. Because, as much as you dislike the idea, an old album and a new album by the same artist CAN be compared. Why? Because it's music made by the same artist, regardless of time. Sure, the artist can grow, improve, change musical styles, what have you, but the bottom line is that he/she is still a musician making music. So until Ted Leo/Pharmacists excel in a completely uncomparable field (I recommend politics), you will have to stomach the notion of their entire catalog being at the whim of "comparists."

melissa posted the following Constructive Criticism: yo, dude. how would you like it if everyone compared everything you said for the rest of your life to that one thing you said once that was really funny? judge each item individually, and leave the comparisons alone.

Tazzy posted the following Constructive Criticism: Chances are you haven't listened to this album enough to have an informed opinion. My bet is by Dec 2007 it will be your (and many others) album of the year.